Beyond the Open Enrollment season, it is important to emphasize the value of preventive care services that are offered to employees.
These services play a crucial role in maintaining and promoting overall health, detecting potential health issues at an early stage, and reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases.
It is important to encourage employees to focus on their mental, physical and financial health by utilizing the benefits available to them. That’s why, it is crucial to create ongoing benefits conversations beyond open enrollment.
What is preventive care?
Preventive care, also known as routine healthcare or preventive services, refers to healthcare measures and interventions designed to prevent the onset or progression of illnesses and health conditions.
Why is preventive care important?
When employees regularly utilize preventive care, they can benefit in several ways:
Health Risk Management
Through regular health checkups, screenings and tests, healthcare professionals can detect risk factors or early signs of chronic conditions. This allows for timely intervention and management, preventing serious health issues in the future.
Early Disease Detection
Early identification of issues through preventive services like cancer screenings enables you to address diseases when they are more manageable, even before symptoms appear.
Boost Overall Well-Being
By preventing or managing chronic conditions, preventive care can enhance overall productivity and quality of life. Healthier individuals are more likely to engage actively in work, relationships, and other aspects of life, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying existence.
Reduce Healthcare Costs
Preventive care can lead to cost savings in the long run by preventing the development of serious health conditions that may require expensive medical treatments. This financial relief contributes to overall well-being by reducing the economic burden associated with healthcare.
Common Services Covered Under Preventive Care
According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health plans are required to provide coverage for a specified set of preventive services at no expense to you, provided they are delivered by a healthcare provider within your plan’s network.
The primary goal of preventive care is to maintain and promote overall health, detect potential health issues at an early stage, and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Common preventive services include, but are not limited to:
- Annual checkups with primary care provider (one per calendar year)
- Blood pressure screening (one per calendar year)
- Colon cancer screening (ages 45 – 75)
- Cervical cancer screening (ages 21 – 65 every 3-5 years)
- Depression screening
- Immunizations for adults and children
- Osteoporosis screening (age 65+ or post-menopause)
- Prostate screening (ages 55-69)
- Type 2 diabetes screening (ages 35-70 annually if overweight or obese)
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening
Check out healthcare.gov for a full list of covered preventive services for all adults, women and children.
It’s important for individuals to check with their specific health plan to confirm the exact services covered and to ensure that they are delivered by in-network providers to avoid any additional costs.
How do employers benefit from the utilization of preventive care?
When employees regularly utilize preventive care, employers can benefit in several ways:
- Reduced healthcare costs
- Lower absenteeism rates
- Improved employee productivity
- Mitigation of long-term disability claims
- Positive impact on health insurance premiums
Employee education is the key to utilization.
Blue Ocean has created resources for employer groups to support them in educating their employees on the importance of preventive care services.